Non-real time services

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a method of receiving digital television signals involves tuning a radio frequency tuner to receive a radio frequency modulated channel containing a transport stream; demodulating the channel to produce an output transport stream; the output transport stream containing an Internet Protocol (IP) stream of packets containing non-real time content, a FLUTE file description table (FDT), NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; demultiplexing the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT content that is stored in an electronic storage medium, the FLUTE FDT, NRT service metadata, and NRT content metadata; parsing the metadata to produces NRT service metadata; NRT content description text and NRT content metadata; and processing the NRT content description text derived from a Text Fragment Table (TFT). This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A digital television receiver that receives Non-Real Time content, comprising in combination:
 a radio frequency tuner that receives a radio frequency modulated channel containing a transport stream and demodulates the channel to produce an output transport stream; 
 the output transport stream containing an Internet Protocol stream of packets containing Non-Real Time content, a FLUTE file description table, Non-Real Time service metadata and Non-Real Time content metadata; 
 an electronic storage medium; 
 a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the Internet Protocol of packets to produce:
 Non-Real Time content that is stored in the electronic storage medium, 
 the FLUTE file description table, 
 Non-Real Time service metadata, and 
 Non-Real Time content metadata; and 
 
 a Non-Real Time metadata parser that produces Non-Real Time service metadata; Non-Real Time content description and Non-Real Time content metadata. 
 
     
     
       2. The digital television receiver according to  claim 1 , where the Non-Real Time metadata parser further processes Non-Real Time content description text derived from a Text Fragment Table. 
     
     
       3. The digital television receiver according to  claim 2 , where the Non-Real Time content description text is received in the Text Fragment Table. 
     
     
       4. A digital television receiver that receives Non-Real Time content, comprising in combination:
 an Internet protocol receiver that receives a stream of Internet protocol packets and selects an Internet protocol subnet containing a packet stream selected as an output packet stream; 
 the output packet stream containing Non-Real Time content, Non-Real Time service metadata and Non-Real Time content metadata; 
 an electronic storage medium; 
 a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the Internet protocol packet stream to produce:
 Non-Real Time content that is stored in the electronic storage medium, 
 Non-Real Time service metadata, and 
 Non-Real Time content metadata; and 
 
 a Non-Real Time metadata parser that produces Non-Real Time service metadata and Non-Real Time content metadata. 
 
     
     
       5. The digital television receiver in accordance with  claim 4 , where the Non-Real Time metadata parser further processes Non-Real Time content description text derived from a Text Fragment Table. 
     
     
       6. The digital television receiver according to  claim 5 , where the Non-Real Time content description text is received in the Text Fragment Table. 
     
     
       7. The digital television receiver according to  claim 4 , where the output packet stream further comprises a virtual channel table, and where the virtual channel table contains a service type code indicative of a virtual channel corresponding to Non-Real Time content. 
     
     
       8. The digital television receiver according to  claim 7 , where the output transport stream further comprises a virtual channel table, and where the virtual channel table contains a service type code indicative of a virtual channel corresponding to Non-Real Time content. 
     
     
       9. The digital television receiver according to  claim 4 , where the digital television receiver is embodied in a television set top box. 
     
     
       10. The digital television receiver according to  claim 4 , where the digital television receiver is embodied in a television set. 
     
     
       11. A digital television receiver that receives Non-Real Time content, comprising in combination:
 a receiver device that receives a signal and produces an output transport stream, the output transport stream containing an Internet Protocol stream of packets containing Non-Real Time content, Non-Real Time service and Non-Real Time content metadata; 
 an electronic storage medium; 
 a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the Internet protocol stream of packets to produce:
 Non-Real Time content that is stored in the electronic storage medium, 
 Non-Real Time service metadata, and 
 Non-Real Time content metadata; and 
 
 a Non-Real Time metadata parser that produces Non-Real Time service metadata, Non-Real Time content description and Non-Real Time content metadata. 
 
     
     
       12. The digital television receiver according to  claim 11 , where the Non-Real Time content description comprises text received within a Text Fragment Table. 
     
     
       13. The digital television receiver according to  claim 11 , where the digital television receiver is embodied in a television set top box. 
     
     
       14. The digital television receiver according to  claim 11 , where the digital television receiver is embodied in a television set. 
     
     
       15. A method of receiving digital television signals, comprising
 tuning a radio frequency tuner to receive a radio frequency modulated channel containing a transport stream; 
 demodulating the channel to produce an output transport stream; 
 the output transport stream containing an Internet Protocol stream of packets containing Non-Real Time content, a FLUTE file description table, Non-Real Time service metadata and Non-Real Time content metadata; 
 demultiplexing the Internet Protocol stream of packets to produce:
 Non-Real Time content that is stored in an electronic storage medium, 
 the FLUTE file description table, 
 Non-Real Time service metadata, and 
 Non-Real Time content metadata; and 
 
 parsing the metadata to produces Non-Real Time service metadata; Non-Real Time content description and Non-Real Time content metadata. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , where processing the Non-Real Time content description comprises deriving text from a Text Fragment Table. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , where the Non-Real Time content description text is received in the Text Fragment Table. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 16 , where the digital television receiver is embodied in a television set top box. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 16 , where the digital television receiver is embodied in a television set.